Electrical connecter device



May 15, 1928. R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTER DEVICE Filed July 23, 1921 Pirated M y 15,1928.

UNITED "STATES 1,669,549 PATENT} OFFICE. v

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC IANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

nnnccrmonn connnczrnn DEVICE.

My invention relates to electrical connecter devices, and more specifically to means for electrically and mechanically connecting and supporting afixture in position with 6 respect to a receptacle in such a manner that it can be readily connected and disconnected both electrically and, mechanically.

A furtherobject'of my invention is to provide such a construction which will be durable and eificient in use, simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

. Further objects will'appear from the de-.

tailed description to follow and .from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is shown I Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a receptacle, a fixture and a connecter;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; C

- Fi 3 is a top plan view of the connecter mem er;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and I Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a latching construction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the construction shown therein comprises a receptacle 10, a plug-in device 11, having push-in'contact blades 12 for engagement with the receptacle contacts, a fixture 13,

(the stem" alone being shown) and a cup shaped swivel connecting member 14, having a limited swivelling movement with respect to the plug-in device 11;" and provided with a plurality of hook members 15, for engagement with a supporting plate 16. The receptacle 10 and supporting, plate 16 may both be mounted on a suitable support- .ing bracket 17, any suitable securmg means Application filed July 23,

'bers 15 from becomin In addition to the belng provided, such as screws 17 extend- 1921. Serial n. 486,999.

hook members 15 to be moved-in back of the supporting plate 16, (the contact blades 12 at the same time entering into engagement with the contacts of the receptacle) and then giving the swivel member 14 a slight turn to bring the hook members 15 on top of the inwardly extending lugs or shelves 23 on the supporting plate 16. i I

If desired,'the-hook members 15 may be provided with downwardly extending projections 24, which enter openings 25 fin the lugs or shelves 23 to prevent the hook memdisengaged. I

o nwardly extending projections-24,'means are provided for ositively preventing the hook members 15 cm becoming disengaged. These means comprise a cup-shaped member 26, surrounding and slida y mounted on the cup-shaped connecting member 14, and provided with \upwardly extending latching members27 which slide in notches 28 in the cup-shaped member 14, and engage the inwardly extending ears or shelves 23 when in latched position to prevent swivelling motion of the swivel member 14, and thus prevent disengagement of the hook members 15. L

In order to hold the latching members 27 in. latching position, a coil' compression spring 29 is provided, thelower end of which seats on the insulating base '21 of the plug-in device 11, and the upper. end of which is operativel associated -with the sliding latching mem ers by means of'screws 30. The upper end of the coil spring is secured t0 one-of the screws 30 as indicated at, 31, while the othen two screws 30 are located just above the upper coil of the spring in position to be engaged by it, andto receive the upper thrust of the spring. The upward movement of the outer slidable latching member 26 is limited by engage I ment of its lower portion 32 with the bottom of the inner cup-shaped supporting member 14. This outer slidably mounted member 26 may be of ornamental appearance to give a finished appearance to the device. The screws 30, which engage the s ring 29, may

also be used to secure the late members 27 to the outer cup member 26.

The fixture stem 13 maybe connected with.

the inner cup-shaped member 14: by means of a bushing 33, riveted onto the cup-shaped that the blades 12 can enter the apertures 19 in the receptacle, and so that the hook membars 15 are in position to enter the annular groove 20. The entire device is then pushed in to ,eau'se the blades 12 to enter the receptacle, and the hook members 14 to move in back of the supporting late' 16. As the hook members 15 are pus ed up'wa'rdl the .the

latching Y members 27 are pressed. ownwardly, because of their engagement with wardly extending lugs or shelves 16.

\ After the device has been pushed inwardly far enough to bringthe ends of the hooks 15 above the supporting plate 16, the stem 13 is rotated, to cause a l1mited swivelling movement of the swivel member 14- about the plug-in device 11, and to bring the ends of the books 15 in above the shelter lu portions 23. As soon as the swivel mem er 14. has been rotated far enough to cause the latching members 27 to clear the inwardly projectmg shelves 23, the compression spring- 29 will raise the outer cup member 26 together with the latch" members 27 carried therebyycausing the upper ends of the latching members to rise above the plane of the rotation of the swivel member 14. As backward rotation of the swivel member 14 is prevented, the hook members 15. cannot be disengaged from the supporting plate 16.

When it is desired to disconnect the fixture and plug-in device, one gras s the outer vmembers 27 down cup-shaped member 26, and pul s down on it, bringing the 11 per end of the latching elow the plane of the inwardlyl projecting shelf portions 1 23. When 't e latching members 27 havebeen thus withdrawn, the swivel cup-shaped vmember 14 can be turned to release the hook members 15 from engagement with the shelves 23, the fixture and cup-shaped member 14 being'raised slightly f necessary to free the downwardly extending lugs 24 'of the hook members from engagement with the openings 25 ofthe shelves. After the swivel member 14 has been rotated sufiiciently to cause the hook members 15 to clear the shelves 23, the entire device including the fixture, the plug-in device 'and the cupbehind the plate, and means for holding said taclecontacts, of means for supporting said to a I plug i'n device, and having hook members berin latching position.- shlves 23 in position toprevent backward shaped member 14 may be withdrawn from the receptacle 10.

- Having thus described my invention, what plug-in device, and having hook members 'engageable with said supporting plate by movement of'said swivel member toward said plate and swivelly-with respect to said plug, to move the hook members. through the apertures in the plate andcause thenr to engage hooks connected, comprising a latching member surrounding said swivel member and slidably mounted thereon.

2. The combination w1th ,a. plug-in device 2 having push-in contacts for engaging receppl ig-in device in position with respe fiat apertured supporting plate associated with said receptacle,-comp rising a connecting member swiveled with respect to said engageable with said supporting plate] by movement of said swivel member toward said plate and swivelly with respect to said plug, to move the hook members through the apertures in the plate and cause them to engage behind the plate, and means for holding said hooks connected, comprising a latch member engaging said plate, and a s ring acting between said lug-in device and ateh-I ing member for holding said latching mem- 3. The combination with a plug-in device having push-in contacts for engaging receptaele contacts, of means for supporting said no plate associated .1 with said receptacle, comprislng" a. connect- 7 ing member swiveled with respect to said; plug-in device, and having hook members' lug-in device infpositio'n with respect to a atapertured supporting engageable with said supporting" plate bymovement of said swive member toward" said 'plate and swivelly with respect rte said plug, to Y move the hook mem'bers through t e apertures in the "late and cause them to engage behind the p te, a'nd means for holdin said-hooks connected, comprjs-' ing a late ing member surrounding said swivel member and slidably mounted there:

on, and a spring acting between said plug-in deviqe and latch'ng'member'for holding said 125 v latching, member in latching position.

In: witness whereof, scribed'my name.

- a. swim havehereunto sub- 

